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Preoperative Carbohydrate Drink Prior to Elective Caesarean Section

Not Applicable
Conditions
Glucose, Low Blood
Fasting
Cesarean Delivery Affecting Fetus
Interventions
Dietary Supplement: Carbohydrate drink
Registration Number
NCT04159948
Lead Sponsor
Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital
Brief Summary

Prior to caesarean section, patients should fast from solid food for 6 hours and from clear fluids for 2 hours. Carbohydrate drinks can also be consumed up to 2 hours before surgery. These drinks have been shown to improve patient well-being after surgery and may potentially improve the neonatal blood glucose level after delivery and reduce the risk of a low blood glucose level. This study aims to assess the influence of pre-operative carbohydrate drinks on blood glucose levels of the baby at delivery.

Detailed Description

Patients recruited to the study will be randomised to one of 3 groups.

Group 1 will receive standard care as per our current practice. This includes fasting from solids for 6 hours prior to surgery and clear fluids for up to 2 hours prior to surgery.

Group 2 will receive a carbohydrate (CHO) drink preoperatively as well as adhering to standard care. Patients will be allowed to drink this CHO drink as required from admission to hospital on the morning of their surgery. They will also receive a further 400ml bolus at 2 hours prior to surgery.

Group 3 will receive an apple juice drink preoperatively as well as adhering to standard care. Patients will be allowed to drink this apple juice drink as required from admission to hospital on the morning of their surgery. They will also receive a further 400ml bolus at 2 hours prior to surgery.

Before the start of surgery, the patients non-dominant hand grip strength will be assessed using the dynamometer. Their subjective sense of thirst and hunger will be assessed. Their fasting times for food and fluids will be recorded. The patients' blood glucose will be measured from a blood sample as their intravenous cannula is inserted. The maternal urinary ketones will be measured from a urine sample upon insertion.

The neonatal blood cord glucose will be measured from both an arterial and venous cord blood sample after delivery. This will be performed by the trained anaesthesia research fellow. Should hypoglycemia be identified, the hospital's neonatal hypoglycemia algorithm will be followed appropriately.

The patients will be followed up at 24 hours by an outcome assessor blinded to the group allocation. Numerical rating scale (NRS) pain scores, postoperative nausea and vomiting and quality of recovery will be assessed at the patients beside. All neonates will be followed up to calculate admissions to neonatal unit and the number of glucose sachets required for hypoglycemia.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
69
Inclusion Criteria
  • Elective caesarean section for singleton pregnancy under neuraxial anaesthesia.
  • Subjects able to give informed consent and willing to comply with the study protocol.
  • Subjects must be greater than 18 years old.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Diabetes Mellitus - including gestational diabetes.
  • Known foetal abnormality.
  • General anaesthesia.
  • Gestation < 37 weeks.
  • Steroids received within 4 days of delivery.
  • Low birth weight 2.5 kg (IUGR)
  • BMI > 40 kg/m2

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
WaterCarbohydrate drinkPatients will be allowed to drink water up to 2 hours before their caesarean section.
Carbohydrate drinkCarbohydrate drinkPatients will be allowed to drink a designated carbohydrate drink up to 2 hours before their caesarean section.
Apple juiceCarbohydrate drinkPatients will be allowed to drink apple juice up to 2 hours before their caesarean section.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Neonatal cord blood glucose0 hours

A blood sample of the neonatal cord will be checked immediately after delivery.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Maternal urinary ketones0 hours

Maternal urinary ketones prior to the start of caesarean section.

Maternal subjective sense of thirst prior to the start of caesarean section.0 hours

Scored on a scale 0-10

Resumption of oral diet post caesarean section.24 hours

Time until resumption of oral diet

Neonate tolerating 1st oral feeding.0-2 hours

Binary outcome - Neonate consuming adequate breast or bottle milk.

Maternal subjective sense of hunger prior to the start of caesarean section.0 hours

Scored on a scale 0-10

Post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV)24 hours

The self reported incidence of PONV

Number of neonatal rescue oral glucose sachets given.6 hours

Continuous - Number of neonatal rescue oral glucose sachets given.

Maternal blood glucose0 hours

Maternal blood glucose prior to the start of caesarean section.

Neonate requiring ICU admission and treatment for hypoglycemia6 hours

Binary - Neonate requiring ICU admission and treatment for hypoglycemia

Maternal quality of recovery24 hours

Measured using the ObsQoR-11 questionnaire

Resumption of fluids post caesarean section.24 hours

Time until resumption of fluids

PONV requiring treatment24 hours

PONV requiring pharmacological treatment

Pain scores24 hours

Pain scores at rest and movement on scale 0-10

Breastfeeding success24 hours

Binary - whether continuing attempted breast feeding at 24 hours

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital

🇮🇪

Dublin, Ireland

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